Beji Caid Essebsi
Beji Caid Essebsi (or es-Sebsi; Arabic: الباجي قائد السبسي, romanized: Muhammad al-Bājī Qā’id as-Sibsī, ⓘ; 29 November 1926 – 25 July 2019) was a Tunisian politician who served as the sixth president of Tunisia from 31 December 2014 until his death on 25 July 2019. Previously, he served as the minister of foreign affairs from 1981 to 1986 and as the prime minister from February 2011 to December 2011.
Beji Caid Essebsi | |
|---|---|
| الباجي قائد السبسي | |
Essebsi in 2011 | |
| President of Tunisia | |
| In office 31 December 2014 – 25 July 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Mehdi Jomaa Habib Essid Youssef Chahed |
| Preceded by | Moncef Marzouki |
| Succeeded by | Mohamed Ennaceur (acting) |
| Prime Minister of Tunisia | |
| In office 28 February 2011 – 24 December 2011 | |
| President | Fouad Mebazaa (Acting) Moncef Marzouki |
| Preceded by | Mohamed Ghannouchi |
| Succeeded by | Hamadi Jebali |
| Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies | |
| In office 14 March 1990 – 9 October 1991 | |
| President | Zine El Abidine Ben Ali |
| Preceded by | Slaheddine Baly |
| Succeeded by | Habib Boularès |
| Minister of Foreign Affairs | |
| In office 15 April 1981 – 15 September 1986 | |
| Prime Minister | Mohammed Mzali Rachid Sfar |
| Preceded by | Hassen Belkhodja |
| Succeeded by | Hédi Mabrouk |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Mohamed Beji Caid Essebsi 29 November 1926 Sidi Bou Said, French Tunisia |
| Died | 25 July 2019 (aged 92) Tunis, Tunisia |
| Resting place | Jellaz Cemetery |
| Political party | Nidaa Tounes (2012–2019) |
| Other political affiliations | Neo Destour/PSD/RCD (1941–2005) Independent (2011–2012) |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 4 |
| Signature | |
Essebsi's political career spanned six decades, culminating in his leadership of Tunisia in its transition to democracy. Essebsi was the founder of the Nidaa Tounes political party, which won a plurality in the 2014 parliamentary election. In December 2014, he won the first regular presidential election following the Tunisian Revolution, becoming Tunisia's first democratically elected president.